A Quick Checklist Before You Rent
Before you rent – A Landlord’s Quick Checklist
Get Insured! Choose the appropriate insurance for you; building insurance, content insurance (if renting furnished), rent guarantee insurance, public liability insurance. Check carefully and make sure the insurance you choose covers the things you need it to.
Fit and test smoke alarms on every floor. If it is a multiple occupancy building, a fire extinguisher and/or fire blanket to be provided, It is good practice to do this with any property.
Renting furnished? Make sure all furniture in the property complies with fire safety standards and have the fire safe label. You are not required to check furniture supplied by the tenant.
Fit Carbon monoxide alarms in rooms with solid fuel fires/wood burning stoves.
Gas Safety check. Any gas appliances need to be checked by a registered gas safe engineer.
Notify the freeholder if your property is leasehold.
Notify your mortgage lender that you are renting the property and require a ‘Buy to Let’ mortgage.
Electrical check. wiring should be checked by a qualified electrician.
Chimneys swept
Post redirected
Documentation, you are required to give to your tenants:
A copy of ‘How to rent” foundhere. This is a checklist for renting in England (you can’t serve Section 21, eviction notice, if you haven’t served this first).
Copy of the EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)
Copy of gas safety certificate).
Take the opportunity of your property being untenanted to arrange any maintenance works to be completed, including the exterior and garden. After maintenance is complete have it professionally cleaned, including the oven and any carpets.
Notify utility suppliers and take metre readings.
Notify telecoms suppliers.
Overseas landlords will need to fill out the HMRC form, found here in order to take rent without paying tax, you will need to complete the NLI1 (Non-resident Application from), found here.
Complete an inventory which includes photos. Make sure this is signed by both you and the tenant, this agrees the condition of the property at the start of tenancy.
Do your own safety, security and maintenance inspection/risk assessment and take photographs. This could include checking any loose items in stair areas such as stair rods, or faulty locks/windows. Loose paving in the garden. In the event of a claim this could prove invaluable. It will also give you a handy ‘to do’ list for the property.
Create a ‘Property File/Welcome pack'. Each property should come with its own unique information pack. This could include;
Manuals for appliances at the property including the boiler.
Instruction of where the stopcock is located and electricity metre.
Contact number of agent/person to call for any repairs or damages.
Get keys cut.
Finally, don’t hand over those keys until the tenancy agreement has been signed!
